CEBU, Philippines - The barangay captain of Lamintak Norte in the northern town of Medellin and five other people were arrested in an illegal gambling operation last Thursday morning.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch swooped in on the suspects while the seven were tallying jai-alai numbers at the barangay captain’s house. The barangay captain, Rene Olivar, the alleged financier, managed to escape.
Arrested were Rogelio Mangubat, 40; Teodoro Yurag, 40; Alfredo Yurag, 27; Monalisa Lanurias, 32; Michael Yuson, 47; and Rosabella Gulfan, 36, the alleged ushers. They are all residents of Medellin.
Police said the six scampered towards different directions upon seeing the operatives past 8:00 a.m. but they were eventually arrested.
Police confiscated two boxes of blank tally sheets, voluminous blank stabs, tally sheets with different number combinations, ball pens, calculators, and P2,300 cash.
Police also confiscated 12 assorted motorcycles from the scene – a Honda XRM (8487 IQ), Haojue motorcycle (8385 IO), Suzuki GD 110 motorcycle without plate, Honda XRM motorcycle (6129 IP), Rusi motorcycle without plate, Honda Wave motorcycle (8541 YY), Honda XRM motorcycle without plate, Racal motorcycle without plate, Rusi motorcycle (2148 GB), Honda XRM motorcycle (2789 XP), Kawasaki motorcycle with damaged plate, Honda Wave motorcycle (9589 YC), and a government vehicle Suzuki multicab with red plate number SEM 468.
Olivar is said to be in the PIB’s target list, as well as that of the Medellin Police Station because of the scope of his illegal gambling activities in northern Cebu.
Insp. Armando Labora, Operation Production chief, said they conducted surveillance at the house of Olivar to check if he was around but what they saw was more than what they have expected.
“Didto gyud sa sulod nag-tally unya sulod-gawas ra man ang mga tao diha,†Labora said.
In a separate interview, Mangubat said he voluntarily applied as an usher to Olivar to earn. He said he could earn more or less P100 a day.
“Porsiyento ra man sad ning ako pero kahibalo ko nga illegal na,†he said.
The suspects are now detained at the Consolacion police stockade pending filing of RA 9287 or illegal gambling. (FREEMAN)